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David vs. Two Goliaths

May 22, 2013 | Featured, Opinion, PerryScope

PerryScope
By Perry Diaz

Anti-Filipino rally in Taiwan

Anti-Filipino rally in Taiwan

It’s tough fighting the world’s second biggest economic power and most populous country. But when another economic heavyweight joins the fight against you, they could trounce you very badly. And to make the situation worse, the two adversaries are the giant People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Lilliputian but economically rich Republic of China (ROC), which is more commonly known as Taiwan. With the Philippines up against the two Chinas, her options are limited.

Over the past several years, China increased her defense budget to double-digit increments. In the case of Taiwan, the United States provided her with firepower to defend herself from China whose ultimate goal is to take over Taiwan and complete the unification of the two Chinas under one government.

But the U.S. has nothing to do with that. Although the U.S. recognizes the PRC under a “One China Policy,” she made it known that Taiwan would be defended should China decide to invade Taiwan.

The Philippines followed suit and adopted a “One China Policy” too; thus, severing her diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. However, the influential community of Chinese expatriates and refugees in the Philippines identify themselves with Chiang Kai-shek and his Kuomintang Party who fled to Taiwan in 1949 after they were defeated by Mao Zedong and his Communist Party in a bloody Civil War.

To continue their “friendship,” the Philippines and Taiwan established two offices to serve as conduit between the two governments. The Philippine government opened the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei; and Taiwan opened the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Manila. Indeed, the relationship between the Philippines and Taiwan couldn’t have been better… until last May 9 when an incident in disputed waters ended in the death of a Taiwanese fisherman.

Fishing boat incident

Relatives of fisherman killed by the Philippine Coast Guard

Relatives of fisherman killed by the Philippine Coast Guard

According to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) account, two Taiwanese fishing boats were sighted in the Balintang channel just north of Luzon, which is Philippine territory and not claimed by Taiwan or any other country. In what appeared to be illegal fishing, the PCG vessel approached the fishing boats but one of them tried to ram the PCG vessel. The PCG fired at the charging fishing boat to disable it. The fishing boat was disabled; however, unbeknown to the PCG crew, a 65-year old Taiwanese fisherman was hit. Then, a “big white ship” came to view and the PCG vessel took off. (Source: The Daily Tribune)

The incident created a crescendo of events leading to violence against Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Taiwan. MECO Chairman Amadeo Perez reported that an OFW was attacked with a baseball bat by an angry mob in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Other attacks on OFWs were reported. “The situation in Taiwan now is very tense,” said Perez.

In an attempt to placate Taiwan, President Benigno Aquino III apologized for the death of the Taiwanese fisherman but the Taiwanese government uncharacteristically rejected it as “insincere.”

And to make matters worse, the Taiwanese government banned the entry of OFWs. The Philippine government is preparing evacuation plans should the need to bring the OFWs home arises. The Taiwanese government also issued an advisory to her citizens not to visit the Philippines.

Enter the bully

"Emperor" Xi Jinping (Credit: The Economist)

“Emperor” Xi Jinping (Credit: The Economist)

Meanwhile, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said, “We strongly condemn the barbaric shooting and killing of the Taiwanese fisherman, demanding that the Philippines should investigate the case and furnish the details as soon as possible. We are deeply grieved about the death of the Taiwanese compatriot and have sent condolences to his family.” With China openly siding with Taiwan, it makes one wonder if China was taking advantage of the incident to drive a wedge between the two allies of the United States. Indeed, China has been trying very hard to neutralize the United States’ military presence in the Western Pacific, particularly in the South and East China Seas.

In August 2012, China tricked the Philippines into ending the standoff at the Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal) by agreeing to a withdrawal of the two countries’ naval vessels from the area. As soon as the Philippines withdrew her Coast Guard vessels, China cordoned off the only opening to the shoal while several Chinese ships stayed. Since then, China has de facto possession of the shoal, which is about 124 miles from Luzon and within the Philippines’ 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Ryukyu archipelago

Ryukyu Islands

Ryukyu Islands

Recently, two events happened that put Chinese expansionism into the geopolitical equation. First, it questioned Japan’s ownership of the Ryukyu archipelago, which includes Okinawa where the U.S. maintains 18 army, navy, air force, and marine bases.

China claims that the Ryukyus were once a Chinese vassal state during the Ming and Qing dynasties; therefore, the island chain should be returned to China.

With this new “territorial dispute,” Japan’s ongoing dispute with China over ownership of the Senkaku Islands takes different dimension. Some experts are saying that China is using the Ryukyu issue as a bargaining chip to her claim over the Senkakus, a group of five uninhabited islands and islets wedged between Okinawa and Taiwan.

When Japan and Taiwan recently signed a joint fishing agreement around the Senkakus, China became furious. And right after that, the ownership of the Ryukyus came into play.

Ayungin Shoal

Ayungin Shoal

Ayungin Shoal

China also opened another potential area of dispute – right inside Philippine territory. A few days ago, several Chinese ships were sighted near the Ayungin Shoal in the Kalayaan town in the province of Palawan.

Last May 10, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson said that Ayungin Shoal is within the Philippines’ EEZ. He said that the entry of foreign fishing vessels in an EEZ is a violation of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China and the Philippines are signatories to UNCLOS. DFA filed a protest letter with the Chinese Embassy in Manila on the provocative presence of two Chinese maritime surveillance shipsand one warship around Ayungin Shoal. (Source: The Philippine Star)

Taiping Island

Taiping Island

Taiwan also has a piece of the action among six nations involved in territorial disputes in the Spratly archipelago. Recently, Taiwan announced plans to expand a pier in Taiping Island, the largest island in the Spratlys. By expanding the pier in the fortified island, it would allow port calls by Taiwan’s 2,000-ton frigates. The island has already a 3,800-foot runway, which Taiwan built in 2006. (Source: New Straits Times)

During the 115th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Navy last May 21, Aquino declared, “Our message to the world is clear: what is ours is ours, and we will repel any and all attempts to claim what is ours, and defend ourselves against any form of aggression, especially within our backyard.”

It seems that it’s going to be a battle between David vs. two Goliaths.

(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)

When export of labor becomes a liability

May 20, 2013 | Featured, Opinion

ON DISTANT SHORE
By Val G. Abelgas

Rolando Mendoza.4On August 23, 2010, President Aquino had barely warmed his seat in Malacanang when a disgruntled police officer hijacked a tourist bus and took hostage several Hongkong tourists, touching off a crisis that tested Aquino’s mettle in leadership and diplomacy. Eight of the tourists were killed along with the hijacker in the bungled rescue operation that was witnessed by the entire nation and replayed many times over in Hongkong and China.

Aquino barely escaped that crisis, but not after profuse apologies and intense negotiations, not to mention the threats on Filipino workers in Hongkong and the adverse effects on the country’s tourism.

Relatives of fisherman killed by Philippine Coast Guard

Relatives of fisherman killed by Philippine Coast Guard

Now it’s happening again. Aquino has barely enjoyed the sweet smell of success in the senatorial elections when another diplomatic crisis came crashing in. Philippine Coast Guard crew members of a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship caught four Taiwanese fishermen on board a small ship apparently poaching on Philippine waters off Batanes and shot at the fishing boat when it allegedly tried to ram the BFAR vessel, killing one fisherman.

The shooting sparked a diplomatic crisis that could cause greater damage than the 2010 incident.

Still sporting from another diplomatic row over the deportation by the Philippine government of 14 Taiwanese nationals to China in February 2011, the Taiwan government reacted angrily by imposing sanctions on the Philippines and threatening to freeze hiring of Filipino workers. The Taiwanese government immediately imposed travel restrictions to Taiwanese wishing to visit the Philippines, dispatched ships and jets to the scene of the incident, and recalled its trade representative. Taiwan demanded that the Philippine government make a formal apology, compensate the family of the victim, punish the guilty, and start bilateral talks on a fisheries agreement to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Just as it appeared confused in the 2010 hostage incident, Malacanang sent mixed signals to the Taiwanese by refusing to allow a Taiwan investigation team to join a probe of the incident while immediately sending a personal envoy to Taipei to express the government’s apology both to the family and the Taiwanese officialdom after Taiwan threatened to freeze hiring of Filipino workers. The Philippines later agreed to a parallel probe.

Although it appears that the Coast Guard was justified to shoot at the Taiwanese ship because it seems inconceivable that the crew would shoot at the fishing boat without any provocation, the Philippines is obviously on the weaker side of the diplomatic row. The country has more than 85,000 workers in Taiwan, mostly in the manufacturing sector, and about 2,000 more are recruited every month. In addition, Taiwanese tourists comprised more than 5 percent of tourist arrivals or a total of 216,511 last year.

At the same time, the Philippines was caught at a wrong time to be at odds with its neighbor Taiwan. President Ma Ying-jeou’s approval rating has dropped to a low 14 percent because of his poor handling of Taiwan’s economy, which registered one of the lowest growths in Asia last year, and it’s certain he would squeeze dry the diplomatic row to regain the trust of his people.

Also, China is exerting all efforts to win over Taiwan, which it considers its province, and would also use the incident to boost such efforts while also adding pressure to its own dispute with the Philippines over the Spratly Islands.

Taiwan Prime Minister Jiang Yi-huah, meantime, said that its 11 sanctions against the Philippines will most probably stay for a long period, and alerted the Taiwanese people “to prepare for a long war” on the issue.

Other than sending the two formal apologies, President Aquino, to his credit, has so far stood his ground against the Taiwanese as he rejected Ma’s claim of murder, refused to personally apologize to the Taiwanese leader, and remains firm against allowing Taiwanese investigators to jointly probe the incident with Philippine officers.

If the investigation proves that the Coast Guard was indeed justified to respond to the Taiwanese fishermen’s provocation, the Philippines should continue to stand its ground against Taiwan. We cannot allow all countries where we have substantial overseas workers to bully us each time such a diplomatic row erupts.

The Aquino administration seems a magnet for diplomatic crises. Since it took over the reins of government in 2010, it has had diplomatic tussles with Hongkong, China, Cambodia, Malaysia and now Taiwan. In all these crises, the government had to tiptoe its way through mainly because of the presence of overseas Filipino workers in these countries, except in Cambodia where Aquino was not worried about locking horns with the Cambodian government.

The country has been bullied by its neighbors – China, Malaysia and now Taiwan – simply because it stands to lose precious dollar remittances from its workers in these countries. That’s the problem with relying deeply on the export of labor for economic growth – the country becomes fodder for bullying countries.

The diplomatic rows with Hongkong in 2010, the prolonged dispute with China over the Spratlys, the diplomatic row with Malaysia over the followers in the Sultan of Sulu in North Borneo, and this crisis with Taiwan should serve as a reminder to the Aquino administration that it cannot continue to rely on OFW remittances for its economic growth and that it cannot allow Filipinos to be exposed to abuse and harassment each time incidents of this nature occur.

(valabelgas@aol.com)

Reports of Taiwanese attacks on OFWs rise

May 20, 2013 | Politics & Government

By Paul Atienza
The Daily Tribune 

Some 85,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan have been engulfed in the strained relationship between the Philippines and Taiwanese government over the death of a Taiwanese fisherman after a Philippine Coast Guard vessel tried to stop a Taiwanese fishing boat last May 9, as reports of attacks on Filipino workers had risen.

Amadeo Perez, chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) reported among the attacks included that on an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was hit by a baseball bat from an angry Taiwanese in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.

“It’s confirmed by our people (that) an OFW was hit by a baseball bat. I think his arm (was hit),” Perez said.

Perez did no elaborate whether there was a Kaohsiung police investigation on the incident.

Perez said that “the situation in Taiwan now is very tense. The Taiwanese are so emotional about this incident that tempers are running very high”.

Perez said that MECO has yet to identify the name of the Filipino worker and an official statement has not been made.

Vice President Jejomar Binay urged Taiwan to ensure the safety of Filipino workers following reports of the attacks by angry Taiwanese.

“We heard and we read in the papers that they have been hit by bats and four have been hospitalized,” Binay told reporters, according to an official transcript released by his office.

“We are appealing to the Taiwanese people to spare our overseas Filipino workers from (the) conflict,” he added.

Taiwanese media reported that a Filipino was treated in hospital after being attacked by a gang of youths.

“We’ve seen reports that their leaders have assured the safety of our people there. We expect them to act on these reports (of attacks),” Presidential deputy spokesman Abigail Valte said.

Nearly 10 million Filipinos live or work abroad, and the tens of billions of dollars in earnings that they send home every year help prop up the Philippine economy.

Taiwan’s leader also called for calm and promised to protect Filipinos on the island amid widespread anger.
Anti-Manila sentiments mounted after a 65-year-old fisherman was shot dead last week by Philippine coastguards who said his vessel intruded into Philippine waters.

Taiwanese media have reported an attack on a Filipino, tourists cancelling planned visits to the Philippines and some supermarkets removing food from the Philippines from their shelves.

“We will continue negotiating the issue with the Philippines and I hope everyone can calmly and peacefully resolve the issue to avoid hurting bilateral ties,” Ma said while meeting a group of international scholars.

Ma said he has instructed relevant Taiwanese units to protect some 87,000 Filipinos living and working on the island to ensure they are not harmed.

Taiwan’s ETTV cable news channel reported that a Filipino was allegedly attacked by four Taiwanese wielding iron bars as he went to work in southern Taiwan. He was treated at hospital for a facial injury.

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister David Lin also urged calm at a press conference aimed at seeking more international support for the diplomatically isolated island in the lingering dispute.

“We consider the Filipino people as our friends… We call on our people to treat them well, and our government will continue to provide a friendly environment for them,” he said.

Only 23 countries have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The Philippines officially recognizes Beijing over Taipei but maintains trade ties with the island.

Taiwan has rejected Manila’s claims that the incident took place in Philippine waters and that it was “unintended”, while President Ma described the incident as “cold-blooded murder”.

A personal envoy for President Aquino was forced to return home on Thursday after Taipei rejected an apology he conveyed for the president.

Taipei has repeatedly pressed Manila to issue a formal government apology, to compensate the fisherman’s family, and to apprehend the killer.

Perez added that only Filipino resident representatives were asked to leave Taiwan but the office remained open to cater the needs of Filipino workers.

Perez had asked for the Filipinos in Taiwan to remain calm in the face of the diplomatic row.

Perez asked the Filipinos, as much as possible, to stay at their respective home while tensions remain high.

Some Filipino workers have been claiming incidents of physical attacks, including reports of increased discrimination from the Taiwanese.

Officials in Taipei dismissed an official apology sent by Manila, saying that the apology was “inadequate and insincere”.

Taipei, in pressuring Manila, has imposed punitive economic measures by suspending visa processing for Filipino workers and cutting trade exchanges. These were followed by a naval drill in the Balintang Channel.
Discrimination to Filipinos by Taiwanese also began when some business establishments in the island refused to give service to Filipinos.

“We advised Filipinos there not to leave home as much as possible. Eat your meals at home, and just commute directly between home and work for now,’’ the advisory said.

Valte maintained that, “from our side, we have repeatedly expressed deep regret on the unintended consequence of the law enforcement operation that was ongoing at that time”.

Valte opted not to give any statement which may lead to a different interpretation by Taiwanese officials, but stressed that,” we can assure that our expressions of sympathy have always been sincere”.

Despite of the threats and duress experienced by the Filipinos in Taiwan, Valte sustained that the government had already anticipated,”which is why we’ve repeatedly made the call for calm and that our Filipino overseas workers in Taiwan have nothing to do with (the shooting incident). They are there to work. They are not there to make trouble,” Valte said.

Valte said that the MECO has already formed a team to focus on the reported maltreatment of Filipino workers which would eventually be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan to be investigated.

With the current hard stance of Taipei officials, Valte could not ascertain how long would the Taiwan crisis be settled so that the Filipino workers may have peace of mind.

“This is not within our control, and we cannot say how long will this take, but there are actions from officials to guarantee the safety of workers,” Valte said.

Valte said that as Taiwan imposed a freeze order to hire more Filipinos to work in Taiwan, “so if freeze on the new hire, according to the data from our Labor department, that would entail almost 30,000 per year as new hire or broken down in 12 months, that is around 2,500. Based also on the 2012 data that we have from POEA”.

“So on that 30,000, we’re looking at alternative markets, as we’ve mentioned yesterday, one is South Korea. Although, our quota under the employment permit system that Korea has 7,900, which we have not yet fully supplied,” Valte said.

While acknowledging that it is of utmost concern for the Aquino administration to mend its strained relationship with Taiwan following the shooting incident, CIBAC Rep. Sherwin Tugna yesterday said it should go hand in hand with the government’s effort to prioritize the safety of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan.

“This issue with Taiwan is a sensitive one that needs to be dealt with utmost care. I hope the Palace’s efforts to work on the strained relations with Taiwan also run parallel with its efforts to prioritize the safety of our OFWs in Taiwan,” said Tugna.

Tensions between the Philippine government and Taiwan escalated to alarming levels last week following the tragic shooting of a 65-year old Taiwanese fisherman by members of the PCG on a sea area where the territories of both the Philippines and Taiwan overlap.

“Aside from mitigating the backlash of the unfortunate incident on Taiwan, the Palace also needs to intensify its efforts in ensuring that our Filipino overseas workers in Taiwan are safe and secure. Reports of untoward incidents on our OFWs are very alarming and needs to be addressed by the Palace,” said Tugna.

“As we all know, it is a bit difficult to facilitate any actions to help our OFWs in Taiwan as our countries do not have diplomatic relations. This is because we adhere and subscribe to the One China Policy wherein the Philippine government recognizes that there is only one state called China and that is the one where its central government is located in Beijing,” the solon added.

Fortunately, Tugna said, the government could rely on the services of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) to help in reaching out to the OFWs in Taiwan.

“I hope the Palace and MECO work in synergy to facilitate the expeditious resolution of this issue so that no harm can befall our Filipino overseas workers in Taiwan,” said Tugna.

“We may not know how this clash between the Philippines and Taiwan would end or when it would end. But I do know that the relations between our country and the island of Taiwan have been strong ever since the MECO was established in 1975. From 1975 up to today, the close ties between the two have been fruitful and beneficial for both,” said the party-list solon.

“I hope that the tensions would subside soon so that the government of the Philippines and the island of Taiwan can work together harmoniously towards the betterment of their people. This is something that is not impossible for two friends who have been allies for decades now and have each reaped the fruits of that friendship,” he said.

Charlie V. Manalo and AFP

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/headlines/item/14277-reports-of-taiwanese-attacks-on-ofws-rise

Taiwan report: PCG murdered fisherman

May 20, 2013 | Politics & Government

By Pat C. Santos
The Daily Tribune 

PALACE REJECTS RESULTS OF PROBE

Taiwanese Hung Shih-Chen who died from shots of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) units chasing his fishing boat last week was murdered, according to the Taiwan official who heads the investigation team after a three-day probe conducted with their local counterparts.

Chen Wen Chi, director of the international Cross Strait Legal Affairs under Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice and who headed a 13-men probe team, added that the Philippine government tried to delay an approval of their request for a joint investigation.

The Taiwanese group also expressed discontent over the lack of sincerity exhibited by the Philippine side in cooperating in the investigation.

Malacañang immediately rejected Taiwan’s allegations that Filipino coast guards had intentionally murdered the Taiwanese fisherman.

Chen, head of the Taiwan team investigating the May 9 incident, said most of the bullets had hit the fishing boat’s cockpit where its crew hid.

“By combining the… evidence, it clearly shows that the Philippine law enforcers were intentionally shooting the Guang Ta Hsin 28 crew members, which indicates their intent of murder,” Chen told reporters.

The shooting, which Manila insists occurred inside Philippine territorial waters but which Taipei counters happened within its exclusive economic zone, has led to Taiwanese sanctions against its neighbor.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and President Aquino’s spokesman Ricky Carandang rejected the murder allegations.

All members of the Taiwan team immediately left the country after issuing the results of its probe. The investigation team was dispatched by the Taiwanese government with their Philippine counterparts providing assistance in the collection and inspection of evidence and in interrogating those involved primarily the crew of the PCG vessel that figured in the encounter.

It further stated that “based on the anonymous reports, the Philippine media has mentioned that the Philippine government is already in possession of a video tape of the incident and other relevant evidence.”

“From the beginning, all the statements made by Taiwan government have always been in accordance to the results of our investigation. However the Philippine government has continuously accused and labeled the victim as a villain in the incident, without disclosing sufficient evidence to back-up their claims,” according to the report. Therefore we strongly urge the Philippine government to follow the same standard that the Taiwan has done faithfully that they should first present their evidence before directing meaningless claims and accusation against the victim.

“If they are unable to produce sufficient evidence that will deem their claims as legitimate, it can be said that the PH government is purposely concealing the offense of their official,” the statement said.

“There is an investigation ongoing so any premature statements that tend to confuse the issues and inflame passions should be avoided,” Carandang said.

De Lima in a separate statement also urged everyone to refrain from making statements “that would further fuel or aggravate the prevailing tension between the Philippines and Taiwan.”

Chen’s comments echoed those made by Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou in Taipei on Friday.

“If (Philippine) civil servants used automatic weapons to fire at unarmed and unprovocative fishing boats, this was not carrying out their job duties. This is cold-blooded murder,” Ma said.

Aquino made a “personal” apology on Wednesday over the “unintended” death arising from the patrol’s duty of protecting Philippine waters against illegal fishing.

Manila insisted its forces fired in self-defense to disable the boat’s engine and prevent it from ramming the patrol craft.

Taiwan has rejected the apology. It recalled its de facto envoy, banned the hiring of new Philippine workers and staged a military drill in waters off the northern Philippines earlier this week.

The Philippines officially recognizes China over Taipei but maintains trade ties with the island, which employs about 87,000 Filipinos.

http://globalbalita.com/wp-admin/post-new.php

Of political dynasts and celebs

May 20, 2013 | Opinion

By NESTOR MATA
MALAYA

‘The just-concluded May mid-term national elections were dominated by familiar names of political dynasts and celebrities.’

THE elections are over, the results are known, and the winning candidates have been proclaimed. And, lo and behold, we see that the familiar names of political dynasts and celebrities dominated the ballots of the machine-conducted May 13 senatorial, congressional and local elections.

The mid-term national elections, conducted by the Commission on Elections on the third year of President Noynoy Aquino’s six-year term up to 2016, were severely pock-marked by undeniably numerous glitches with the PCOS (precinct count optical scan) machines, killings and other violent incidents, vote-buying and cheating nationwide from Aparri to Mindanao and Sulu.

Over 52 million Filipino voters were registered by the Comelec to elect 12 of the 24-member Senate, over 300 members of the House of Representatives, and thousands of city and town mayors, vice-mayors and councilors.

Of the 12 new senators elected, nine were from the Aquino-backed Liberal Party coalition ticket, one of them his neophyte nephew as the lone LP winner, three from the Nacionalista Party, and the rest from other political parties and two flitting political butterflies. Three other winners belonged to that of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) coalition led by Vice President Jejomar Binay, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, one of them Binay’s daughter, the other a son of re-elected San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez and Estrada, who himself won as mayor of the city of Manila, and the third Gringo Honasan, a re-electionist.

Even in the House of Representatives, those elected carried the surnames of prominent political families, otherwise called political dynasties, like Marcos and Fariñas of Ilocos Norte, Singson of Ilocos Sur, Ortega of La Union, Aquino of Tarlac, Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga and Bicol, Alvarez of Palawan, and Pacquiao of Sarangani province in southern Mindanao, led by boxing star and incumbent Rep. Manny Picquiao, who’s now building a political dynasty of his own. And this is not to mention other celebrities in filmdom who were winners, too!

Some members of dynastic families, which have held political sway over the decades, didn’t make it this time. Among them were the Josons of Nueva Ecija, the Tañadas in Quezon, the Sumulongs of Rizal, the Garcias of Cebu, the Tupases of Iloilo, the Teveses of Negros Oriental, the Dazas of Northern Samar, the Villarosas of Occidental Mindoro, the Villafuertes of Camarines Sur, the Antoninos of South Cotabato, and the Jalosjoses of Zamboanga. And some of the celebrities didn’t get elected, too!

But, despite the impassioned efforts of certain socio-political groups to raise public disapproval of political dynasties, the indications are clear that they, including the rising political clan of celebrities, will continue to dominate in political exercises up to the next presidential, national and local elections in 2016.

Over 250 dynastic families have monopolized political power all over the country, even though they were prohibited under the 1987 Constitution. Congress, which has long been controlled by members of such political clans, has failed, again and again, to define political dynasties as provided by Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution that was ratified during the presidency of President Cory Cojuangco Aquino, who, with her son Noynoy, both belong to dynastic political families in Tarlac.

And so, like it or not, political dynasties are here to stay, just as they have in other democracies in the world, like the United States, where dynastic political families have existed for over two centuries since its founding as a republic. Here in the Philippines, such dynastic political families go back to Spanish colonial times in the late 1800s, and on to the American occupation in the 1900s, to the Commonwealth government years in the 1930s, to the Japanese occupation in the 1940s, to the post-Second World War years of independence to this day.

Many of those dynastic political families have for decades produced notable political leaders who have moved to national prominence and have had a significant impact on the country’s politics as presidents, vice presidents, senators, congressmen, governors, city and town mayors, councilors and barangay captains.

Actually, as I wrote in this column just before the May elections, one can say there’s nothing inherently wrong or offensive with political dynasties. There is yet no law that defines the term political dynasty and prohibits members from running for public offices, just as there are no laws that ban children of lawyers, doctors, engineers, architects and other professions from following the footsteps of their parents.

Of course, there are bad dynastic political families as well as benevolent dynastic political families, but they’ll continue to exist and flourish in our country, just as they have existed for centuries in all 50 states of the USA and other democratic countries of the world.

“We have been in politics for a long, long, long time,” a patriarch of one such dynastic family once told me proudly, “We have been elected again and again and again, which means we have been doing well. Don’t call it dynasty, it is destiny!”

***

Quote of the Day: “Many forms of government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worse form of government except all other forms have been tried from time to time.” – An Anonymous Political Commenter

Thought of the Day: “In a democracy, the opposition is not only tolerated as constitutional, but must be maintained because it is indispensable.” – Walter Lippmann

http://www.malaya.com.ph/index.php/opinion/31462-of-political-dynasts-and-celebs

Why no FDIs

May 20, 2013 | Opinion

By DUCKY PAREDES
MALAYA

‘From 2010 to 2012, the Philippines received FDIs totaling only $5.9 billion, a measly amount compared to Indonesia’s $52.5 billion and Vietnam’s $23.5 billion.’

CONSIDERING the successive credit rating upgrades from various international agencies, long-term, capital-intensive investments ought to be coming in droves.

In March, Fitch Ratings upgraded the country’s credit rating to BBB minus — investment status.

The primary beneficiaries of these upgrades are our special economic zones (SEZs), particularly the Clark SEZ (CSEZ) in Pampanga and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) in Zambales.

Enrique Razon, the president and chairman of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) says that ICTSI is “pushing hard” and “building the market” to transform Subic into a major port.

Subic is currently upgrading its port facilities through the Subic Bay Port Development Project, and plans to tie up with Clark to form the Subic-Clark Corridor via the 45-kilometer segment of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

This is clearly not wishful thinking on the part of ICTSI as Subic has taken giant strides towards becoming a world-class port during the watch of Chairman Roberto Garcia of the SBMA.

Just recently, the SBMA secured a quality standard certification–ISO 9001:2008–that means Subic has reached the global standard for quality management systems.

The Bureau of Customs also notes that Subic Port collection posted a strong performance in April, reaching P1.09 billion or double that month’s target of roughly P529.65 million.

Two foreign shipbuilding companies–one Japanese and the other European plan to put up facilities beside Hanjin Heavy Industries. Says Garcia. “The SBMA already made talks with both companies and both are interested. If that happens, Hanjin will have a shipbuilding neighbor.”

***

But, assessments coming from University of the Philippines (UP) economists Raul Fabella and Ben Diokno see the government as part of the problem.

Fabella says that the problems encountered by big-time investors like Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) send this clear message: “regulatory fragility and hold-up are still rife in the Philippines!” This explains why the “FDI flow was a puny $1.5 billion in 2012.”

“Investment grade or not, FDIs would rather be elsewhere,” says Fabella, who notes that despite passing all national requirements, SMI was still unable to start its $6-billion Tampakan gold-and-copper mine but was, instead, stopped a provincial ordinance proscribing open-pit mining.

“I disagree with the assessment that the credit upgrade would result in a surge of FDIs into the Philippines. FDI inflows depend on a different set of variables such as cost of doing business, state of public infrastructure including existence of sufficient, affordable and reliable power supply, policy consistency and credibility,” says Diokno, a former budget secretary.

Diokno notes that although both Vietnam and Indonesia have speculative ratings of below investment grade, they received more foreign direct investments. From 2010 to 2012, the Philippines received FDIs totaling only $5.9 billion, a measly amount compared to Indonesia’s $52.5 billion and Vietnam’s $23.5 billion.

Pending energy projects like the Subic power project have to proceed at a much faster pace to ensure stable and adequate power by 2016, when the President steps down and when the Department of Energy (DOE) projects a supply shortfall of 600 MW arising from greater demand.

The Philippine Independent Power Producers Association (PIPPA) highlights the dire consequence of such a scenario as its president cites official data showing that the current consumption spike of 4.5 percent will require another 600 MW of power two years from now.

PIPPA is composed of 27 power-generation companies that account for a combined 12,323 MW or 75& of the grid’s installed capacity.

***

SMI’s Tampakan project–the Philippines’ biggest single investment at $6 billion–is the best example why investors are on wait-and-see mode, even with the all those credit upgrades.

The Tampakan project suffered innumerable delays and snags in obtaining an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) even as the Mining Act allows open-pit mining, and the project’s proponents have assured all stakeholders of the various safeguards it will put in place to protect the environment.

The delays continue even after Justice Secretary Leila De Lima herself already pointed out that national laws transcend local laws, even when it pertains to the mining sector.

An even worse case than the Tampakan mining project is the status of the Redondo Peninsula Energy, Inc., RP Energy’s coal-fired thermal power plant project in Subic.

Two months ago, a Court of Appeals (CA) division threw out a petition seeking a Writ of Kalikasan and a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) against RP Energy’s Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant in Barangay Cawag in Subic, Zambales.

At the same time, the appellate court invalidated the ECCs issued by the DENR for the project, as well as the Lease and Development Agreement entered into by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and RP Energy.

The CA division was correct in dismissing the ecological doomsday scenarios pictured by the petitioners. On top of raising fears over a project that is still in the implementation stage, the oppositors provided documentation plucked from the Internet to support their claims without any validation from experts, thus making their claims mere hearsay in the eyes of the court.

In contrast, the CA noted that the project proponents–RP Energy–presented documentation and expert testimonies proving that the project would use state-of-the art technology to ensure a safe and steady and affordable supply of power to the Luzon grid.

This January ruling by a CA division is a precedent because it stems from the first Writ of Kalikasan case against a power project.

The impact of the decision penned by CA Associate Justice Celia Librea Leagogo goes beyond RP Energy and the power industry.

The decision poses an unnecessary risk to investors and investments, especially for those that require ECCs and those in freeports and special economic zones across the country.

Why? Because the decision places a cloud of doubt over all ECCs issued by the DENR in the past. All issued ECCs may now be deemed invalid because of alleged wrong procedures as declared by the Court of Appeals.

This ruling on RP Energy’s Subic power plant project will scare away investors despite the rosy news about the Fitch upgrade because it reinforces the business community’s concerns over the Philippines’ unstable and inconsistent policies that hamper growth.

Moreover, if RP Energy is compelled to give up and pack its bags, it would mean scrapping an environment-friendly project that would have provided an additional 600 MW of power to the Luzon grid at a time when Mindanao-style blackouts are on the horizon.

In its Philippine Energy Plan for 2012-2030, the DOE reveals that the Luzon grid will need an additional capacity of 10,500 MW onwards to 2030.

The CA ruling opens the floodgates to a wholesale challenge to all ECCS issued to private companies, and all LDAs entered into by locators inside Subic and other special economic zones across the country.

The ruling essentially takes away SBMA’s power to approve projects within its sphere and effectively removes its autonomy to govern the zones SBMA governs.

More importantly, as with the case of the ECCs, the CA ruling effectively invalidates all the Lease Agreements between SBMA and its locators.

Yet, the LGUs ceded control over the territories covered by the SBFZ when they issued Sanggunian resolutions acknowledging the SBMA’s sole authority to manage the development of the SBFZ Zone.

Moreover, the powers of the SBMA are exercised by its Board of Directors comprising of, among others, representatives of the LGUs that agreed to join the SBFZ. Three representatives from the LGUs of Olongapo, Morong and Hermosa were members of the SBMA Board when the LDA was forged with RP Energy in 2010.

But, does not R.A 7227 prevail over the Local Government Code as provided under Sections 14 (b) and 23 of the bases conversion law? The approval of the LGU Sanggunians is not necessary.

Ruling otherwise defeats the very purpose of RA 7227, as well as the autonomy of special zones like Clark in Pampanga and Camp John Hay in Baguio.

***

Readers who missed a column can access www.duckyparedes.com/blogs. This is updated daily. Your reactions are welcome at duckyparedes@gmail.com or you can send me a message through Twitter @diretsahan.

Binay: No lupus, no dialysis

May 20, 2013 | Politics & Government

By Jose Rodel Clapano
The Philippine Star 

Jojo-Binay.5MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay denied on Friday that he has lupus or that he is undergoing dialysis.

In a speech delivered before members of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) during the organization’s 106th convention and scientific meetings, Binay even asked PMA members to conduct medical examinations on him.

“Perhaps rumors and speculations have already reached all of you and for some, it is a conclusive statement that I am ill. They claimed that I have almost all ailments,” Binay said.

He said those who are spreading such rumors are also doctors.

“I am just laughing about it. How can they say that I have an ailment when there is a doctor who looks after me in our house every day and she is no other than my wife, Dr. Ellen Binay. That is why tonight, after my speech, I am inviting you to examine me personally so that you will be the one to say if I really have lupus, if I am undergoing dialysis or if I really have other ailments as they claim,” Binay said.

At the same time, the Vice President also challenged the members of the PMA to join him in his daily walking exercise.

“If you have time, please join me in my walking exercise which I do every day. My personal goal is 10,000 steps a day, every day. But I must admit that I often exceed my personal goal by a few more thousand steps. You are free to join me, or if you have a walking club composed of doctors, I do hope you will invite me to join you in your activities,” Binay said.

He said he is much aware of the important role that doctors play in society.

“My better half, Ellen, took the Hippocratic Oath as all of you did. Having been my companion and best friend for 40 years, Ellen has given me an insight on how physicians and specialists silently change the course of lives. Each one of you attends to our fellow Filipinos who suffer sickness or ailment and all of you apply the fullest extent of your faculties to grant them relief,” Binay told the PMA members.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/05/19/943720/binay-no-lupus-no-dialysis

(Economic) War in the Pacific

May 20, 2013 | Opinion

By Karim Rahemtulla, Investment Director
Oil & Energy Daily

Strait of Malacca

Strait of Malacca

Back in March, we talked about Myanmar – and the massive investment opportunity taking shape there.

I know it sounds like an obscure country with limited prospects, but I assure you, it’s not. And I’ll have even more information for you once I get back from the Myanmar 2013 Investment Summit in Hong Kong.

But today, I don’t just want to talk about Myanmar. I want to talk about another regional economic power: Malaysia.

Both of these countries are vital to global trade, and their respective roles are becoming increasingly entangled.

You see, with its positioning near the South China Sea, Malaysia is a vital trade hub and home to one of the world’s most crucial shipping lanes – the Strait of Malacca.

We’ve talked about choke points before – namely the Suez Canal and Strait of Hormuz.

Well, the Strait of Malacca, which runs a long, narrow distance between Malaysia and Indonesia, is in that category of importance.

More than 60,000 ships carrying 40% of the world’s cargo pass through the strait each year. Merchandise going from China to Europe crosses paths with supertankers loaded with oil headed from the Middle East to China and Japan.

Indeed, about 15 million barrels of oil – including 80% of China’s crude imports – pass through the Strait of Malacca each day, compared to roughly 17 million barrels for the Strait of Hormuz. Yet, while the Strait of Hormuz is 27 miles wide at its narrowest point, the Strait of Malacca forms a bottleneck that’s less than two miles across.

The strait is equally vital to Japan, as it’s a passage for 90% of that country’s oil imports.

Basically, the world’s second- and third-largest economies would come to a halt if the strait were closed down for any reason. Fortunately, the Strait of Malacca is surrounded by three moderate countries: Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

Malaysia and Indonesia are majority Muslim countries, and they don’t have a history of adversity when it comes to trade or foreign relations. Instead, the major incidents that have hamstrung traffic in the strait involve piracy. For that reason, each country maintains an active navy or coast guard.

China-Myanmar Oil Pipeline

China-Myanmar Oil Pipeline

Still, shipping through the strait can be expensive, which brings us back to Myanmar. Indeed, China incurs more expenses shipping through the Strait of Malacca than any other country. But there’s a way that those expenses can be avoided.

Instead of shipping goods through the strait, China could export its goods out of Myanmar – its neighbor to the southwest, which sits on the Bay of Bengal near India. Moving goods out of Myanmar would bypass the Strait of Malacca entirely.

Of course, this idea isn’t unique to China. Japan had the same idea. Now, both countries are pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into Myanmar to secure its strategic ports on the Indian Ocean and cut down on transport costs.

But that’s not all. In addition to being a key transportation hub, Myanmar also boasts the world’s ninth largest reserves of natural gas. Obviously, both Japan and China are interested in those, as well.

That’s why Myanmar is all the rage right now for frontier investing. It’s resource-rich, strategically important and relatively underdeveloped.

Now, as we’ve seen in the past, the boom and bust cycles for emerging markets can be both euphoric and brutal. But that’s why I’m here to get a firsthand look myself.

I’ll have more information for you after the conference.

And “the chase” continues.

 http://www.oilandenergydaily.com/2013/05/17/malaysia-myanmar-strait-of-malacca/#read

Inside China: China vs. Japan and U.S. on Okinawa

May 20, 2013 | Opinion

By Miles Yu
The Washington Times

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force patrols the Senkaku Islands, which China calls the Diaoyu Islands, in the East China Sea. China is trying to strengthen its claim on tiny, uninhabited, Japanese-controlled islands by raising questions about the much larger Okinawa chain that is home to more than 1 million Japanese along with major U.S. military installations. Tokyo has issued a "stern protest." (Associated Press)

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force patrols the Senkaku Islands, which China calls the Diaoyu Islands, in the East China Sea. China is trying to strengthen its claim on tiny, uninhabited, Japanese-controlled islands by raising questions about the much larger Okinawa chain that is home to more than 1 million Japanese along with major U.S. military installations. Tokyo has issued a “stern protest.” (Associated Press)

China is challenging a key American policy toward Japan: the unambiguous U.S. support of Japan’s sovereign rights to the Ryukyu island chain, including the key strategic island of Okinawa.

The United States does not officially take sides in disputes between China and Japan over the hotly disputed Senkaku Islands, also called the Diaoyu, but Washington repeatedly and unequivocally has recognized Japan’s sovereign rights over the Ryukyu Islands. Thousands of U.S. troops are stationed on Okinawa as America’s forward deployment force in the Asia-Pacific region. The island is considered a strategic base for resupply efforts in case of a conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

China recently issued a direct challenge to Japan’s claim of sovereignty over the Ryukyus and the U.S. government’s support of Japan’s position. On May 8, the People’s Daily, a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee, published a sensational and long article headlined: “Not only do we want to take Diaoyu Dao back, but also the Ryukyus are open for discussion.”

The article made the central point that sovereignty of the Ryukyus was never decided clearly because the islands are an independent kingdom that historically paid tribute to Chinese imperial dynasties. It also argued that Japan has no legitimate rights over the Ryukyus, including Okinawa.

As if the article were not explosive enough, military commentator Gen. Luo Yuan of the People’s Liberation Army’s Academy of Military Sciences weighed in Tuesday through official Chinese media to belabor the point that China owns the Ryukyus. The official communist newspaper Global Times on the same day reported on Gen. Luo’s comment under the blunt headline: “The Ryukyus belong to China, never to Japan.”

The general is one of China’s best-known strategists. The Chinese media, including the People’s Daily and the Global Times, frequently identify him as an active-duty major general, but he actually may be retired. Gen. Luo often expresses hawkish views in official media, frequently with extreme loathing toward the United States. He is the son of Luo Qingchang, an intelligence chief for Mao Zedong.

Views like his in the tightly controlled official Chinese media pose direct challenges to the U.S. official position that the Ryukyus belong to Japan.

During World War II, the Japanese islands in the Ryukyu chain became a serious obstacle to the allies’ military advance toward the Japanese homeland.

After the Okinawa campaign, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff in June 1945 decided to exclude the strategically important Ryukyu Islands south of the 30th parallel from Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s postwar administration of Japan, and placed those islands directly under U.S. military control.

In 1951, the San Francisco Peace Treaty, signed between Japan and the 48 victorious Allied nations, placed the Japanese islands in the Ryukyu chain south of the 29th parallel under a U.N. trusteeship.

The treaty appointed the United States “as the sole administering authority” with the “right to exercise all and any powers of administration, legislation and jurisdiction over the territory and inhabitants of these islands, including their territorial waters.”

When the treaty took effect on April 28, 1952, it recognized Japan’s “potential sovereign claim,” if not administrative right, over these islands.

Since 1952, the Japanese government pressed Washington to terminate the trusteeship so the Ryukyu Islands could be administered by Japan.

In the early 1960s, the White House formed a task force “to investigate the current conditions in the Ryukyu Islands and the United States policies and programs in force there.”

In March 1962, President John F. Kennedy issued an executive order and announced: “I recognize the Ryukyus to be a part of the Japanese homeland and look forward to the day when the security interests of the free world will permit their restoration to full Japanese sovereignty.”

Seven years later, Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato and President Richard M. Nixon issued a joint communique in Washington that set the stage for the full return of Okinawa to Japan, which regained sovereignty of the islands in 1972.

Responding to the People’s Daily article, Okinawa Gov. Kirokazu Nakaima called the Chinese claims “ridiculous.”

The Japanese government issued a “stern protest” to Beijing about the article and asked for clarification.

“We cannot under any circumstances accept the People’s Daily article if it reflects the Chinese government’s view,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga was quoted as saying.

Chinese government spokeswoman Hua Chunying shot back: “China does not accept Japan’s representations or protests.”

 

Benghazi Syndrome

May 18, 2013 | Featured, Opinion, PerryScope

Kaleidoscope
By Perry Diaz

Sens. McCain, Graham, and Ayotte

Sens. McCain, Graham, and Ayotte

There is a new virulent disease that infected a group of people in Washington, DC. So far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) cannot isolate the organism that’s causing the mysterious disease. It’s so mysterious that it makes a lot of people wonder when – not if – they would be infected by the disease. But for some strange reason, the disease is confined inside the Washington DC beltway.

The disease started after the terrorist attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012. Clinical manifestations of the disease — called “Benghazi Syndrome” or BS for short — include losing the ability to rationalize, indulging in conspiracy theories, and suffering from paranoiac outbursts. However, the CDCP failed to isolate any organism, virus or bacteria that causes BS. But what baffles the CDCP is that BS afflicts only Republicans in Congress!

Attempts to determine what Republicans eat that is different from Democrats failed. When it comes to eating, Republicans and Democrats seem to have the same tastes – steaks, lobsters, sashimi, and raw oysters. They all love to drink expensive wine provided by lobbyists. So why is it that only Republicans are susceptible to acquiring BS?

Congressional witch hunt

I did some research among those who have been severely afflicted with BS. First to contract BS were Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Kelly Ayotte. Within days of the Benghazi attack, McCain led a smear campaign against U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice. They attacked Rice’s Benghazi “talking points,” accusing her of withholding information to cover up the real story. They demanded an investigation and vowed to block Rice’s confirmation in the Senate should President Barack Obama appoint her as Secretary of State. Well, Rice did not give them that chance; she withdrew from being considered for an appointment.

Rep. Darrell Issa

Rep. Darrell Issa

The virulent strain of the Benghazi Syndrome spread to the House of Representatives. Rep. Darrell Issa, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and four other House committee chairmen conducted their own investigations. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey gave countless hours of testimony. The State Department sent more than 25,000 pages of documents to Congress. And yet Issa and the other witch hunters would not let up on their beliefs that the Obama administration is covering up something and they want to hear the true story of l’affair Benghazi.

White House emails

Recently, the White House publicly released more than 100 pages of emails on the Benghazi attack. These are the same emails that they sent to Congress last February. The following lists some of the reactions from publications and media professionals:

“There is no evidence of a grand conspiracy to invent a Benghazi cover story in the email dump.” (Source: Steven Dennis)

“The internal debate did not include political interference from the White House, according to the e-mails.” (Source: The Washington Post)

“Her [Rice] crime was simply to lean on a document that was produced in a chaotic atmosphere by bureaucrats working with imperfect information and perhaps some turf to protect.” (Source: Bloomberg View)

“But it’s not just that Republicans were wrong (mostly). They also unfairly maligned Susan Rice and owe her an apology.” (Source: Jeffrey Goldberg)

“This is probably another skewed poll but Pew Research says most Americans aren’t paying attention to the Benghazi investigation. In fact the number — 44% — is less than the amount by which Mitt Romney won.” (Source: Pew Research)

But McCain and his cohorts still couldn’t get it. They insist that the Obama administration is covering up the real story about the deadly Benghazi attack that killed four Americans including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Instead of ending their rhetoric, the Republicans doubled down and blamed the White House and the State Department for the cover-up that they believe was bigger than the Watergate cover-up. Clearly, McCain and his gang are still suffering from BS. But this time, Hillary Clinton is in the crosshairs. Why?

It became apparent that what the Republicans are doing is twofold. One, impeach Obama; two, destroy Hillary Clinton as a viable presidential candidate in 2016. This is their game plan to take the White House in 2016.

And just when the Benghazi investigations were beginning to simmer down for lack of merit and public support, two new scandals were exposed involving the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). Once again, the Republicans are back in action attacking the Obama administration. Congressional hearings are scheduled. It’s witch-hunting season again.

Repeal Obamacare

Obamacare-supportersLast May 16, the House of Representatives voted – for the 37th time! – to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or “Obamacare.” However, the bill is expected to die – also for the 37th time – in the Democrat-led Senate. And even if the Senate passed the bill, who would think that Obama would sign it to law?

The question is: How come the House Republicans are so obsessed with repealing “Obamacare,” which among other benefits has provided health care insurance to 30 million uninsured Americans? Is it because the health care industry is one of the biggest – if not the biggest – donors to Republican campaigns? Or is it because they hate Obama so much that they’d do everything they could to block – or sabotage — his program of government? Or both?

People power

As a result, Congress has become dysfunctional and has lost sight of its true purpose and role in government. Instead of introducing and passing legislation to create jobs and stimulate the economy, it is becoming a “do-nothing” and obstructionist Congress.

Ultimately, the American people suffer. The people need to act to put a stop to all the BS that’s going on in Congress. They should – nay, must! — purge Congress of extremists who are blinded by their radical ideological beliefs.

The upcoming mid-term elections in 2014 could bring about a change to the way our representatives work in Congress. It’s time to elect people who promote the people’s best interests, not the lackeys of oligarchs and plutocrats who have for so long influenced Congress with their Super PACs.

At the end of the day, it can be said that democracy fails only when the people allow it to fail. The power of the ballot box is ours to use to preserve our democratic ideals. Yes, it’s time to use the ballot box to clean up Congress.

(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)

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